Role of microbial diversity in ecosystem sustainability

Abstract

Microorganisms are ubiquitous i.e. they are present nearly everywhere in world. They are huge in number and play significant role in environment. Microorganisms have several vital roles in ecosystems: decomposition, oxygen production, evolution, and symbiotic relationships with plants etc. Microbial enzymatic activity is responsible in cyclic of essential nutrients. Microbial diversity can be characterized on the basis of morphology, physiology, genetic and geography etc. The microbial ecology is relationship between microorganisms and their biotic and abiotic environment. Microbes are huge in number and significant role in environment. Microorganisms have several vital roles in ecosystems such as decomposition of complex molecules, produce oxygen, symbiotic relationships with plants, recycling of nutrients and bioremediation. Plant growth promoting microorganisms enhances plant growth by production of plant growth hormones, enzyme production, siderophore production and HCN production etc. Microorganism uses processes such as Biodegradation, Biotransformation, and Co-metabolism for degradation of xenobiotic compounds. Few specific microorganisms are use in mining industry which process is known as bioleaching.